Temptations, The Biography

If you would like to share Temptations, The lyrics with other users of this site, please see the bottom of this page on how to submit Temptations, The lyrics.

Originally formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961 as the Elgins; name changed to the Temptations, 1961; original group consisted of Otis Williams (born October 30, 1949, in Texarkana, Texas), Melvin Franklin (born October 12, 1942, in Montgomery, Alabama), Paul Williams (born July 1, 1939, in Birmingham, Alabama; died August 17, 1973, in Detroit, Michigan, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound), Edward James Kendricks (born December 17, 1939, in Birmingham, Alabama), and Elbridge Bryant. Paul Williams was replaced in 1971 by Richard Street (born October 5, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan). Eddie Kendricks was replaced in 1971 by Ricky Owens; Owens was replaced in 1971 by Damon Otis Harris (born July 3, 1950, in Baltimore, Maryland); Harris was replaced in 1974 by Glenn Leonard; Leonard was replaced in 1982 by Ron Tyson. Elbridge Bryant was replaced in 1964 by David Ruffin (born January 18, 1941, in Wyanot, Mississippi); Ruffin was replaced in 1968 by Dennis Edwards (born February 3, 1943, in Birmingham, Alabama); Edwards's spot was filled from 1976-79 by Louis Price and from 1982-86 by Ollie Woodson. Addresses: Office-- c/o Motown Record Corporation, Hollywood, Calif. 90028.

The Temptations, one of the few groups to survive from the days when the sound of the Motown record company ruled the airwaves, have maintained their popularity through more than two decades of changing styles in popular music. Commenting on the group in the Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll, Joe McEwen and Jim Miller wrote: "While the Four Tops covered the frenetic side of the Motown sound and the Miracles monopolized its romantic side, the Temptations quite simply stood as the finest vocal group in Sixties soul: they could outdress, outdance, and outsing any competition in sight." Today, the "Tempts" continue to project this dynamic yet elegant image in both their recordings and their live performances.

The group came together in Detroit in 1961, when Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams, of the Primes, joined forces with Otis Williams, Al Bryant, and Melvin Franklin of the Distants. Both the Primes and the Distants were popular in Detroit, but neither had had a national hit. The five men originally christened the new group the Elgins, after a high-quality watch. Upon learning that the name was already taken, they settled for calling themselves the Temptations. "You can see today that it was the perfect name," commented Otis Williams in his book Temptations. "It was about style and elegance but also suggested romance and, frankly, sex." Williams added that from their earliest days, the group consciously cultivated a sophisticated image: "In our songs and in our moves, we were subtler and more romantic than some other guys, who were always grunting and sweating and carrying on."

After a few months of rehearsing, the Temptations auditioned for Detroit record producer Berry Gordy. Impressed by their intricate harmonizing, Gordy immediately offered them a contract with his fledgling record company, Motown. In their early days, the group played numerous gigs at Detroit clubs (where they had an enthusiastic following), sang backup for many of Motown's established stars, and toured the country with the Motortown Revue in the company of the Supremes, Dionne Warwick, and others. Despite their obvious talent, however, the Temptations released seven singles without a hit. Gordy briefly renamed the act "the Pirates" in 1962, hoping to change their luck. The group's members were relieved when the Pirates' "Mind Over Matter" and "I 'Il Love You Till I Die" flopped. Williams explained in Temptations, "We'd have died for a hit, but if it meant going through life in pirate uniforms, no thanks!" By 1964, personality conflicts forced Al Bryant to leave the group; he was replaced by David Ruffin, a Detroit singer who had enjoyed some solo success. Ruffin had an athletic stage presence; his spins, cartwheels, and splits added an exciting new dimension to the Tempts' act. Further improvements came through the group's association with Cholly Atkins. This long-time professional dancer, who had served as choreographer for Gladys Knight and the Pips, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the Cadillacs, and other successful groups, developed many of the Temptations' trademark smooth moves.

National success finally came in 1964 with "The Way You Do the Things You Do," a tune written and produced by Smokey Robinson, which peaked at number eleven on the pop charts. Capitalizing on the song's popularity, Motown released Meet the Temptations, an album containing "The Way You Do the Things You Do," and its B side, "Just Let Me Know," along with all of the group's previously unsuccessful singles. In 1965 another Smokey Robinson song, "My Girl," became their first number-one hit. Like most of the Tempts' early music, it was a ballad that Robinson had produced as well as written. In 1966 the group worked with producer Norman Whitfield for the first time, cutting one of their most popular songs, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." It was the beginning of a long and successful collaboration. "Norman Whitfield could and did produce soft, smooth ballads with the best of them but, stylistically speaking, he was headed into another realm," wrote Otis Williams. "His backing tracks crackled with more intricate percussion, wailing, almost rock-style guitars, and arrangements that featured us as five distinct singers instead of one lead singer fronting a homogenized doo-wop chorus....[He] took us in new directions without losing the heart of our sound."

For several years, the Temptations were one of the most popular acts in America. They played the hottest nightclubs, appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and numerous other television programs, and did a series of recordings and television appearances with the Supremes that broadened both groups' appeal. Their stage routine became even more refined after a special four-headed microphone was designed for them. It allowed them to keep their distance so that even when executing complicated moves, they were in no danger of stepping on each other. Their great success brought its own set of problems, however. Some members proved unable to handle the wealth and popularity that had come their way. Ego clashes within the group became common. There were many personnel changes during the late sixties and early seventies: David Ruffin left to pursue a solo career in 1968 and was replaced by Dennis Edwards. Edwards's career with the group was fitful; he was asked to leave in 1974 and replaced by Louis Price; he returned briefly in 1979 but was soon turned out in favor of Ollie Woodson; and he came back to the group a third time in 1986. In 1970, Eddie Kendricks decided to follow Ruffin's lead and go solo; he was replaced by Ricky Owens of the Vibrations, but Owens was almost immediately dismissed in favor of Damon Harris, who stayed with the group until 1974. Harris was then replaced by Glenn Leonard, whose spot was taken by Ron Tyson in 1982. Paul Williams, considered by some as the soul of the Temptations, was asked to leave the group in 1971 because of his worsening alcoholism and related health problems; his spot was filled by Richard Street. Two years later, Williams committed suicide in Detroit.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Temptations and producer Whitfield pioneered the "psychedelic soul" movement, which was characterized by an electric funk sound and socially conscious lyrics. The trend yielded several big hits for the Tempts, including "Cloud Nine," "Ball of Confusion," and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." Whitfield stuck with it long after it had been imitated enough to become a cliche, however, and the once-creative relationship between the Temptations and their producer stagnated. Otis Williams reported in Temptations that Whitfield began minimizing the singers' contributions to their own albums: "On some tracks our singing seemed to function as ornamentation for Norman's instrumental excursions. When we started reading articles where writers referred to us as 'the Norman Whitfield Choral Singers,' we really got mad." The Temptations' fans were disappointed as well. Record sales fell dramatically. The Temptations sought more artistic control over their recordings, but Berry Gordy was deaf to their requests. Frustrated, the group severed its association with Motown in 1976.

A two-year contract with Atlantic failed to help them out of their slump, however. It was the age of disco, when many Motown acts faded away. The Temptations weathered their share of personnel changes and inactive periods, but remained intact. In 1979 they renegotiated with Motown and returned to their old company. Shortly thereafter, the classic Motown sound came back into vogue and the Temptations were once again in demand. They reunited briefly with Ruffin and Kendricks for a tour, but personality conflicts soon resurfaced, and they quickly returned to a five-man lineup. After their appearance on the Motown 25 television special, they teamed with the Four Tops for a "T'n'T Tour" that played to enthusiastic audiences around the world for nearly three years.

by Joan Goldsworthy

Temptations, The's Career

Temptations, The's Awards

Grammy Award for best rhythm and blues performance by a group, 1969, for "Cloud Nine," and 1972, for "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"; Grammy Awards for best rhythm and blues song and best rhythm and blues instrumental performance, 1972, for "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" American Music Award for best vocal group, 1974.

Feel free to share Temptations, The lyrics. Just click on "Add a comment…" below and paste the song name and the lyrics. However, please do not postTemptations, The lyricsunless you have received permission from the copyright owner. Make sure to include the name of the Temptations, The album along with the lyrics.

I am 60 years of age and I remember the temptations as if they were on stage at this moment. Actually, today I was playing the Temptations for the last 7 hours trying to determine whose voice was singing which line.
I was able to make out who was singing which note, except on a song called sail away. The high part sounded just like Eddie Kendrick’s voice and I consider myself an expert on the voices of the Temptations. If it was not for the fact that Eddie had long since left the group to become the "Hit man", I would have bet anyone that the voice on ”Sail away” was Eddie's.
As I listen to the recordings of the Temptations I visualize where I was during the time of any particular song.
I must admit, I do get emotional thinking that the beautiful sounds are from people that were very much loved, part of our lives back in the 60s, 70s, 80s and are no longer with us, except for Otis from the original Temptations.
Back in the 60s, everyone I knew did not have to hear a new Temptations record before they bought it. Once the word got out that they had released a new song, we all went to buy it.
If I could not replace my Temptation recordings and someone was to say to me they would give me $10,000 for them I would not sell.
To me listening to the recordings of the Temptations is one of the few things in life I truly cherish. I could never see myself without them.
About a year ago I was able to purchase a cd by the current Temptations, called for “Lovers only.” I must admit I would have to put this recording in the category of one that I will always treasure, not to be loaned out.
If you get the chance get a copy of Otis William's book on the temptations, the book will answer some the questions that many people did not know.
I have a copy of the movie based on Otis's book and I watch it at least once a month and never get tired of it, nor does the watching of it over and over reduce the watering of the eyes each time I see it. I must say the actors portraying the Temptations did a wonderful job.
If I was told, I could pick any entertainer to entertain me for a day, the Temptations with Melvin, Eddie, Paul, Otis and David would be my first choice and I would be willing to take a loan out on my house to pay for it.
I once met Melvin in a supermarket's parking lot in Los Angeles in the 80s. I must admit he was the nicest brother you would want to meet. We sat in his car for about an hour just talking about the Temptations and Motown.
He played a track on his car stereo written by his Nephew, saying it was going to be the tract of the next Temptations recording. It was fantastic, I told him so and it did become one of their biggest hits in the 80s; I heard it first.
I will always treasure that hour spent with Melvin. Eddie was always my favorite Temptation, because of that voice and the coolness I would have loved to have pocessed back then. However, since coming to understand their great ability, which turned me into a true lover of the Temptations, each one of the originals is my favorite.
There is one particular Temptation song called "Ain't to proud to beg" It is my favorite Temptation song because my closest friend and brother would always sing that song when we were kids and I cannot help but to think of my friend who is no longer with us, every time I even think of or hear that song.
Well I had no plans on writing a book; I just got a little carried away after thinking about the Tempts all day.
If you are not a big fan of the Temptations, my suggestion to you would be, buy any original mid 60s Temptation's recording, really listen to the voices and you will become a diehard Temptation fan for life as I am.

almost 10 years ago

I love the Temptations. Not alot of people my age know who the temptations are well i do. i like to play over and over again the movie.